Equipment rack panel system and method

ABSTRACT

An equipment rack panel system using one or more rack extension panels with optional raceway to interconnect equipment cables to service cables through connectors within the rack extension panel. The rack extension panel is either fastened to or integral with one of the posts of the equipment rack or otherwise adjacent to the equipment rack and extends away from the equipment rack so as not to occupy space within the equipment rack normally reserved for equipment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority benefit of provisional application Ser.No. 60/825,100 filed Sep. 8, 2006, the content of which is incorporatedin its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to equipment racks for dataequipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional equipment rack, frame, cabinet and the like (referred togenerally herein as a “rack”) can hold conventional data equipment,sized typically in a rack unit format, such as communication, computeror other equipment, to generally provide structural support to positionthe data equipment in a vertically stacked arrangement within theequipment rack. Conventional patch panels, also typically sized in arack unit format, can also be positioned in or attached to the equipmentrack to receive equipment cables coupled to the data equipment forinterconnecting the equipment cables with service cables via connectorscarried by the patch panels.

Unfortunately, as these conventional patch panels share the verticallystacked arrangement with the data equipment within the conventionalequipment rack, the equipment cables, wires, and the like (referred togenerally herein as “cables”) may be of undesirable length to span thedistances between the data equipment and the patch panels. Furthermore,since the patch panels and data equipment may be arranged ininconvenient elevations in the equipment rack, management of theequipment cables may pose a challenge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an equipment rack panel system includingrack extension panels affixed to an equipment rack.

FIG. 2 is a fragmented, enlarged perspective view of the equipment rackpanel system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the rack extension panels shown inFIG. 1 with a door section in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the rack extension panel of FIG. 3 with thedoor section in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a second implementation of therack extension panel including a cable raceway.

FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the second implementation of therack extension panel of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the second implementation of therack extension panel of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective front view of a third implementation of the rackextension panel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of a third implementation of the rackextension panel including a cable raceway.

FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the third implementation ofthe rack extension panel of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the third implementation of therack extension panel of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the third implementation of the rackextension panel of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be discussed in greater detail herein, an equipment rack panelsystem uses one or more rack extension panels to interconnect equipmentcables to service cables through connectors within the rack extensionpanel. The equipment cables are coupled to equipment located within therack. The rack extension panel is either fastened to or integral withone of the posts of the equipment rack or otherwise adjacent to theequipment rack and extends away from the equipment rack so as not tooccupy space within the equipment rack normally reserved for equipmentof rack unit format.

An equipment rack 10 having posts 12 and post holes 14 is shown in FIG.1 as having an interior area 15 to receive data equipment 16 for supportthereof by the equipment rack with equipment cables 18 coupled to thedata equipment. A first implementation of an equipment rack panel system100 is shown to have a first implementation of an extension panel 102coupled to one of the posts 12 and receiving the equipment cables 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rack extension panel 102 includes a connectorhousing 104 coupled to one of the posts 12 through brackets 106. Theconnector housing 104 includes a stationary section 108 and a doorsection 110 being coupled thereto with a piano-type hinge 111, whichallows the door section to be outwardly swung about the hinge away fromthe stationary section (as shown in FIG. 4) to access an elongatedinterior area 112 of the connector housing. The elongated interior area112 is defined in part by the stationary section 108 and the doorsection 110 as they extend longitudinally from an upper first end 112 aof the elongated interior area to a lower second end 112 b of theelongated interior area. The first end 112 a and the second end 112 b ofthe elongated interior area 112 are accessible through an upper firstend opening 104 a and a lower second end opening 104 b of the connectorhousing 104. The first opening 104 a and the second opening 104 b of theconnector housing 104 allows multiple copies of the connector housing104 to be placed, end-to-end, one on top of the other, if an increasedheight of the rack extension panel 102 is desired.

Further shown in FIG. 2, the door section 110 includes a front portion113, a side portion 114, orthogonally oriented with respect to the frontportion, and an angled portion 116 angularly extending therebetween. Ofnote, the side portion 114 is that portion of the door section 110 ofthe depicted first implementation that is coupled to the stationarysection 108 through the hinge 111.

The door section 110 includes a release handle 117 to unfasten the doorsection from the stationary section 108 to allow for rotational movementof the door section about axis of rotation of the hinge 111. The doorsection 110 further includes connector mounting apertures or holes 118to receive connectors 120. Connector labels 122 are each proximallypositioned with a different respective one of the connector mountingholes 118 to convey identification or other information related to theassociated one of the connectors 120 positioned within the connectormounting hole.

The stationary section 108 includes a side portion 124 and a rearportion 126 orthogonally oriented with the side portion. The sideportion 124 extends to abut with the front portion 113 of the doorsection 110 when the door section is in the closed position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The rear portion 126 orthogonally extends from the sideportion 124. The hinge 111 is coupled to both the rear portion 126 ofthe stationary section 108 and the side portion 114 of the door section110. The rear portion 126 of the stationary section 108 has an opening128 that allows access for service cables (not shown) into the interiorarea 112 of the connector housing 104 as further described below. Thebracket 106 includes mounting holes 130 to receive bolts 132 forcoupling the rack extension panel 102 to one of the rack posts 12 of theequipment rack 10. In other implementations, the rack extension panel102 can be otherwise affixed adjacent to the equipment rack 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector housing 104 further includes aconnector retainer bracket 134 affixed to the angled portion 116 andextending into the interior area 112 of the connector housing to securethe connectors 120 to the angled portion 116 of the door section 110. Acable guide 136, such as a plate or other such member, extendsorthogonally from the angled portion 116 into the interior area 112 ofthe connector housing 104 to help position portions of service cables(not shown) that are coupled to the connectors 120. The cable guide 136can be also useful in positioning service cables when the door section110 is swung open as shown in FIG. 4.

A second implementation of the rack extension panel 102 is shown inFIGS. 5-7 to include a raceway 140 positioned between the connectorhousing 104 and the bracket 106. The raceway 140 includes an outer side142 having an opening 143, an inner side 144, an outer front-sideportion 146 extending orthogonally inward from the outer side 142 and aninner front-side portion 148 extending orthogonally inward from theinner side 144. The outer front-side portion 146 and the innerfront-side portion 148 serve to couple the raceway 140 with theconnector housing 104. The raceway 140 further includes a rear side 150having an opening 152 for service cable access. The raceway 140 providesguidance and support for various configurations of service cable inaddition to that provided by the connector housing 104. The raceway 140encloses an interior area 154, which has a first end opening 140 a and asecond end opening 140 b to allow for stacking of multiple copies of therack extension panel 102 with raceway 140 end-to-end, one on top of theother.

A third implementation of the rack extension panel 102 is shown in FIG.8 to include a larger dimensional implementation of the raceway 140having extended versions of the outer side 142 and the inner side 144.

A fourth implementation of the rack extension panel 102 is shown in FIG.9 to include an upper opening 160 a and a lower opening 160 b in thefront portion 116 of the door section 110 to accept panels having theholes 118 to receive the connectors 120 or with the connectors 118pre-molded into the panels. The rear portion 126 of the stationarysection 108 has an upper opening 162 a and a lower opening 162 b thatallows access for service cables (not shown) into the interior area 112of the connector housing 104. The outer side 142 of the raceway 140includes an upper opening 164 a and a lower opening 164 b (shown in FIG.10).

The rear side 150 of the raceway 140 has an upper opening 166 a and alower opening 166 b for service cable access as shown in FIG. 11. Theupper opening 160 a, the lower opening 160 b, the upper opening 162 a,the lower opening 162 b, the upper opening 164 a, the lower opening 164b, the upper opening 166 a, and the lower opening 166 b are framed withcurved edges 168 to reduce wear on cables coming into contact with them.As shown in FIGS. 9-12, the rear portion 126, the outer side 142, theinner side 144, outer front side portion 146, inner front side portion148, and the rear side 150 curved edges 170 to reduce wear on cablescoming into contact with them. The inner side 144 is coupled to the rearside 150 with a hinge 172 and can be swung open by unlatching a releasehandle 174 secured thereto.

Aspects of the disclosed equipment rack panel system include a firstmember supporting connectors and a second member affixed to an equipmentrack. The first member and second member extend from the equipment rackwithout occupying space in the equipment that could otherwise be usedfor equipment such as having a rack unit format of single, multiple, orfractional rack unit dimensions encompassing a fractional width of theequipment rack and/or a fractional height of the equipment rack. In someaspects, the second member is affixed to a post of the equipment rack.Other aspects include the first member being hingedly coupled to thesecond member. Certain aspects include the second member being affixedto the equipment rack through attachment means, such as bolting, whereasin other aspects the second member and the equipment rack are anintegral unit. Additional aspects include the first member being formedto partially enclose service cables coupled to an interior side of theconnectors. Other aspects include the connectors receiving equipmentcables, the equipment cables being coupled to equipment located in rackunit format areas of the equipment rack and extending through anexterior area of the first member to the first member.

Further aspects include the first member having an angled side extendingbetween perpendicularly oriented side portion and a front portion of thefirst member. Other aspects include the second member having a cablechannel to guide and support service cables coupled to the interior sideof the connectors. Additional aspects include a portion of the firstmember being disengagedly coupled to a portion of the second memberthrough a releasable fastening means.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. For an equipment rack having an interior to receive equipment forsupport thereof by the equipment rack, a panel assembly comprising: ahousing having a plurality of elongated sides and a door, both theplurality of elongated sides and the door extending between a first endand a second end of the housing, the door being pivotably coupled to afirst stationary one of the plurality of elongated sides for selectiverotation between a closed position and an open position relative to asecond stationary one of the plurality of elongated sides, the doorextending between the first and second stationary elongated sides whenthe door is in the closed position, the door being positioned away fromthe second stationary elongated side when in the open position, theplurality of elongated sides and the door arranged to define an areawith a first opening at the first end of the housing and a secondopening at the second end of the housing when the door is in the closedposition, the first opening and the second opening inwardlycommunicating with the area, the door having apertures shaped and sizedto receive connectors for mounting to the housing; and an attachmentportion shaped and coupled with the housing to be used to couple thehousing with the equipment rack to position at least a portion of thehousing in a location outside of the interior of the equipment rack. 2.The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion is abracket.
 3. A panel assembly positionable in a first position adjacentan equipment rack extending along a vertical dimension of the equipmentrack, the panel assembly comprising: a first housing having a pluralityof elongated sides and a plurality of connectors coupled to a first oneof the plurality of elongated sides, the first elongated side beingpivotably coupled to a second one of the plurality of elongated sides,the first elongated side being pivotable between a closed position andan open position relative to a third one of the plurality of elongatedsides, the second and third elongated sides being stationary, the firstelongated side extending between the second and third stationaryelongated sides when the first elongated side is in the closed position,the first elongated side being rotatable away from the third stationaryelongated side to position the first elongated side in the open positionwhereat the first elongated side is spaced apart from the thirdstationary elongated side, the plurality of elongated sides beingarranged to define an interior area, the first housing having first andsecond openings located at opposite ends of the first housing, the firstopening and the second opening of the first housing inwardlycommunicating with the first housing area; and at least a second housinghaving a plurality of elongated sides and a plurality of connectorscoupled to a first one of the elongated sides, the elongated sidesarranged to define an interior area, at least the second housing havingfirst and second openings located at opposite ends of the secondhousing, the first opening and the second opening of the second housinginwardly communicating with the second housing area, in the firstposition the first housing being oriented for the first opening of thefirst housing to be aligned with and to inwardly communicate with thesecond opening of the second housing with the first opening of the firsthousing facing the second opening of the second housing.
 4. For anequipment rack having an interior to receive equipment for supportthereof by the equipment rack, a panel assembly comprising: a housinghaving a plurality of elongated sides arranged to define an interiorarea, a rotatable first side of the plurality of sides having holesshaped and sized to receive connectors for coupling with the housing; ahinge; a second side of the plurality of elongated sides being coupledto the first side through the hinge; a third side of the plurality ofelongated sides being non-rotatably coupled to the second side andstationary relative thereto, the first side being rotatable about thehinge between a first position adjacent the third side and a secondposition spaced part from the third side; and an attachment portionnon-rotatably coupled with the second side to couple the housing to theequipment rack at a location outside of the interior of the equipmentrack, the second side being stationary relative to the equipment rackwhen the housing is coupled to the equipment rack.
 5. For an equipmentrack having an interior to receive equipment for support thereof by theequipment rack, a panel assembly comprising: a housing having aplurality of elongated sides arranged to define an area, the pluralityof elongated sides including a first side, a second side, and a thirdside, the first side and the second side of the plurality of elongatedsides orthogonally oriented and fixedly positioned relative to oneanother, the third side extending between the first side and the secondside at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the first side and the secondside, the third side having holes shaped and sized to receiveconnectors, the third side being rotatably coupled to the first side andselectively rotatable relative thereto away from the second side toprovide an opening into the area; and an attachment portion shaped andcoupled with the housing to couple the housing to the equipment rack ata location outside of the interior of the equipment rack.
 6. The panelassembly of claim 5 further including a hinge and a release handle, thethird side being rotatably coupled to the first side by the hinge, thethird side being releasably couplable to the second side by the releasehandle when the third side is positioned adjacent to the second side. 7.A system for coupling to an equipment rack, the equipment rack havingfirst and second elongated upright posts configured to supportequipment, the first and second elongated posts being laterally spacedapart and defining a space therebetween within which equipment supportedby the first and second elongated posts is positionable, the systemcomprising: an elongated housing configured to be in an upright positionextending along the first elongated post outward of the space definedbetween the first and second elongated posts and defining an uprightelongated interior housing space within the housing, the housing havingan elongated first wall, a stationary second wall, a stationary thirdwall, and an attachment portion, the first wall being adapted to supporta plurality of connectors longitudinally extending along the first walland accessible from within the interior housing space by conductorsextendable through the interior housing space and connectable to theplurality of connectors, the first wall being rotatably coupled to thestationary second wall and selectively rotatable between an openposition providing access to the interior housing space and a closedposition, the first wall extending between the second wall and the thirdwall when in the closed position, the attachment portion being adaptedfor coupling the housing to the first elongated post to position thehousing outward of the space defined between the first and secondelongated posts.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the housing furtherincludes an upper opening and a lower opening, each communicating withthe interior housing space and providing access to the interior spacefor conductors to be connected to the plurality of connectors.
 9. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein the stationary second wall has an aperturetherein sized for the passage of conductors to be connected to theplurality of connectors therethrough.
 10. The system of claim 9 whereinthe housing further includes an upper opening and a lower opening, eachcommunicating with the interior housing space and providing access tothe interior space for conductors to be connected to the plurality ofconnectors.
 11. The system of claim 7 for use with the first and secondelongated posts defining a rectangularly shaped space, wherein theelongated housing is configured to be in the upright position extendingalong the first elongated post outward of the rectangularly shapedspace, and the attachment portion is adapted for coupling the housing tothe first elongated post to position the housing outward of therectangularly shaped space.
 12. The system of claim 7 for use with thefirst and second elongated posts defining a lateral plane, wherein thefirst wall is facing laterally inward at an acute angle with respect tothe lateral plane.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the second wall isarranged to be in face-to-face juxtaposition with the lateral plane, thefirst wall being rotatable from the closed position laterally inward tothe open position providing lateral access to the interior housingspace.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein the stationary third wall isarranged to be transverse to the lateral plane.
 15. The panel assemblyof claim 1, further comprising: at least one cable guide extendinginwardly from the door into the area defined by the plurality ofelongated sides and the door when the door is in the closed position.16. The panel assembly of claim 15 for use with cables, the panelassembly further comprising: a plurality of connectors couplable to thecables and received by the apertures of the door, the at least one cableguide being configured to help position portions of the cables when thecables are coupled to the connectors.
 17. The panel assembly of claim 1,further comprising: a release handle operable to releasably couple thedoor to the second stationary elongated side.
 18. The panel assembly ofclaim 3 wherein the third elongated side is non-rotatably coupled to thesecond elongated side.
 19. The panel assembly of claim 3, furthercomprising: at least one cable guide extending inwardly from the firstelongated side into the interior area defined by the plurality ofelongated sides.
 20. The panel assembly of claim 19 for use with cables,the panel assembly further comprising: a plurality of connectorscouplable to the cables and connected to the first elongated side formovement therewith, the at least one cable guide being configured tohelp position portions of the cables when the cables are coupled to theconnectors.
 21. The panel assembly of claim 3, further comprising: arelease handle operable to releasably couple the first elongated side tothe third stationary elongated side.
 22. The panel assembly of claim 4for use with cables, the panel assembly further comprising: at least onecable guide extending inwardly from the first side into the interiorarea defined by the plurality of elongated sides; and a plurality ofconnectors couplable to the cables and received by the holes of thefirst side, the at least one cable guide being configured to helpposition portions of the cables when the cables are coupled to theconnectors.
 23. The panel assembly of claim 4, further comprising: meansfor releasably coupling the first side to the third side.
 24. The panelassembly of claim 5 for use with cables and a plurality of connectors,the panel assembly further comprising: at least one cable guideextending inwardly from the third side into the area defined by theplurality of elongated sides, the at least one cable guide beingconfigured to help position portions of the cables when the plurality ofconnectors are received by the holes of the third side and the cablesare coupled to the connectors.
 25. The panel assembly of claim 5,further comprising: a coupling mechanism operable to releasably couplethe third side to the second side.
 26. The panel assembly of claim 7 foruse with cables and a plurality of connectors, the panel assemblyfurther comprising: at least one cable guide extending inwardly from thefirst wall into the interior housing space, the at least one cable guidebeing configured to help position portions of the cables when theplurality of connectors are supported by the first wall and the cablesare coupled to the connectors.
 27. The panel assembly of claim 7,further comprising: means for releasably coupling the first wall to thestationary third wall.